5 lessons Jurgen Klopp learned during positive international break for Liverpool

The international break hasn't always been the best of times for Liverpool, but the most recent double-header could have gone a lot worse.

Previous breaks have hit Jurgen Klopp's side hard, be it through unexpected injuries or losses of momentum. This time, though, there has been a little less momentum to lose, while injuries sustained before the break have kept some players back in England.

Liverpool will return to Premier League action on Saturday, taking on Brighton & Hove Albion at Anfield with a chance to close the gap to the top four.

Here, Mirror Football examines the key take-aways for Klopp over the last fortnight.

1. Forwards can kick-start their season

Liverpool's last league game before the break laid bare their issues in attack. Darwin Nunez has dropped back a bit since his red card against Crystal Palace, while Diogo Jota was still getting up to speed by the time he made a non-scoring cameo from the bench in the goalless draw at Everton.

Both men returned to scoring form in the break, though. Jota was among the scorers as Portugal put four past the Czech Republic, while Nunez found the net for the first time in more than a month as Uruguay beat Canada in Slovakia.

Mohamed Salah was also on target, following up his goal against Ajax with two for Egypt against Niger. Klopp now finds himself in the rare position of having a number of players making their case for a starting spot up front, and may even have the luxury of resting Luis Diaz after his exertions for Colombia across the Atlantic.

2. Time off for key men

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Salah was given a break after that first Egypt game, but others stayed home altogether for a variety of reasons. Thiago Alcantara had been working his way back from injury before the break, and Klopp will surely be happy the Spanish international wasn't rushed back into more intense action which might have harmed his recovery.

Liverpool have benefited greatly in recent years from James Milner's early international retirement, with the Englishman able to offer more and for longer in the twilight of his career. And now there's a similar situation with Joel Matip, whose Cameroon exile has continued.

With the World Cup likely to take its toll on players from across the Premier League, any chance for players to stay home and stay fresh will surely be welcome. This applies for those whose countries failed to qualify, like Salah, Diaz and Greece's Kostas Tsimikas, but also those no longer part of their countries' picture.

3. Unexpected rests can help duo

While some players' time off was predictable, that wasn't the case for every member of the Reds' squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold's lack of use by England manager Gareth Southgate was well-documented, while Roberto Firmino was an unused substitute in both of Brazil's friendlies.

Both men will have been allowed to stay fresh as part of their respective countries' training camps. Still, with a busy October up ahead, the lack of extra miles in their legs could be a benefit.

The question for Klopp may concern morale, with both now at risk of missing out on the World Cup. The manager's task will now be to bring better performances out of Alexander-Arnold and Firmino in a Liverpool shirt, if not to force their way back into the international reckoning then at least to show Southgate and Brazil boss Tite what they are missing.

4. Henderson ready to go

Jordan Henderson last played for Liverpool at the end of August, with the injury he picked up against Newcastle United prompting the Reds to move for Arthur on deadline day. He was initially left out of the England squad, and some might have been fearing the worst when he was a late addition before returning to club action.

There was good news for the Merseyside club, though. The captain came off the bench in England's draw with Germany and showed no apparent ill-effects of the recent hamstring problem.

Klopp may be reluctant to throw Henderson right back into the thick of things against a Brighton side with plenty of midfield energy and a new manager to impress. The option is there, though, and genuine midfield depth can only help after a difficult few weeks.

5. Rivals handed questions

As well as keeping a close eye on his own players, Klopp and his team may well have been monitoring their rivals' key men. With ground to make up on those above them in the league, Liverpool will be hoping others drop points and allow them to gain momentum.

Manchester City's bid to retain their title has been boosted by the goalscoring form of Erling Haaland. However, after scoring in eight straight games for club and country, he drew a blank as Norway lost at home to Serbia.

Meanwhile, while Firmino watched on from the sidelines for Brazil, other Premier League players - including Reds keeper Alisson - were put through their paces. Now it's time to find out whether those exertions will take their toll on likes of Thiago Silva and Casemiro, both of whom started both games for the World Cup favourites.

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